| gorilla bonus
tracks
--Oct 16, 2004
Thanks for buying the limited release gorilla
CD! Since you took advantage of our special online-only offer,
we've included 3 additional bonus tracks!
 now
where'd that gorilla go? | tracking
rules & details | handy gorilla facts
now
where'd that gorilla go?
The gorillas do not stay in the same place.
Each group moves daily, foraging for food and creating a new nest
when they want to rest. So every morning before the hikers set
out, an advance team of 2 trackers sets out to find each group
of gorillas in order to make it easier (read “possible”)
for the guide and hikers to find them later.
The trackers use a combination of learned skill
and new technology. First, by using a previously taken GPS reading,
they go to the spot where the gorillas were seen the prior day.
At that point, they start tracking using visual clues (broken
branches, droppings, etc.), following the gorilla’s path
through the brush to their current location. Sometimes they go
a short distance, sometimes a long distance. This year, they’ve
had a very good success rate of getting the hikers to the gorillas,
but some years it hasn’t been as good. We were fortunate
to see gorillas on both our tracking days.
So we didn’t actually meet our trackers
until we finally caught up to the gorillas. We heard our lead
tracker’s voice on our guide’s walky-talky, but the
first time we heard the tracker in person… well, we didn’t
even realize it since it was only a birdcall to which our guide
responded.
now
where'd that gorilla go? | tracking
rules & details | handy gorilla facts
tracking rules
& details
We applied for and obtained gorilla permits
for 2 days of gorilla tracking through the Uganda Wildlife Authority
(UWA). The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (rightly named) is a World
Heritage Foundation Site and is committed to the conservation
and sustainability of the wildlife in the protected areas of Uganda.
The UWA issues only 18 permits a day – 6 permits for each
of the 3 groups of gorillas that they currently track. These permits
are typically already allocated anywhere from 3 to 6 months in
advance.
Because they are an endangered species, we
were originally hesitant about paying for the right to tromp into
their habitat and disturb them. We were very pleased to learn
that the proceeds from the permits are primarily used to protect
the gorillas and that the UWA is extremely diligent about facilitating
an eco-friendly experience.
| The UWA increases gorilla protection via the
following rules/procedures: |
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-Only 18 permits are issued for each day |
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-Once a group reaches the gorillas, they are limited to
viewing for one hour (this may be cut short by the guide if
the gorillas seem agitated) |
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-Stay back at least 3 meters from the gorillas to avoid
spread of germs (gorillas and humans share 97% of the same
genes so it’s easy for them to catch our colds and diseases) |
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-Don’t go on the hike if you’re sick. In fact,
this is the only reason that the UWA will refund your money
for a permit. They don’t want to take a chance of you
infecting the gorillas. |
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-Don’t make any loud noises or sudden movements around
the gorillas |
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-Don’t eat near or around the gorillas |
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-Don’t use your camera’s flash around the gorillas |
now
where'd that gorilla go? | tracking
rules & details | handy gorilla facts
handy gorilla facts
The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
is one of three subspecies of gorillas. All species of gorillas
are endangered, but this subspecies especially is in trouble,
numbering only about 700 (but fortunately this is up from about
600 or so a decade ago). There are none in captivity; they survive
in only two places: the Virunga volcanic mountains bordering Congo,
Rwanda and Uganda; and here, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
in Uganda where 100% of the proceeds from guided treks goes towards
gorilla conservation.
Males reach up to 450 pounds, while females
may weigh up to 250 pounds. They are vegetarians, eating primarily
leaves and shoots. Each social unit is lead by a large silverback
male (called a silverback because of the gray/silver color on
his back). The other members of the group may consist of one or
more adult blackback males, several adult females, and several
young.
Gorillas move around, usually daily, searching
for food in their preferred habitat of thick jungle/rain forest.
They also spend a fair amount of time sleeping, especially the
silverback.
Males live up to 60 years and females live
up to 50 years. Unfortunately, their reproduction is relatively
slow, and they don’t begin producing young until they are
about 10 years old and their gestation period is almost as long
as humans. After giving birth, they will wait approximately 4
years until giving birth again.
Gorillas are gentle creatures, and only aggressive
if threatened. Their only significant predator is man.
now
where'd that gorilla go? | tracking
rules & details | handy gorilla facts
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